As India experiences rapid growth in internet usage and digital services, experts are emphasizing the urgent need for increased undersea cable infrastructure to handle the rising telecom and data traffic. With internet penetration surging and the country emerging as a global digital hub, industry leaders warn that existing submarine cable networks may soon become insufficient to meet demand.
Growing Internet Usage Driving Demand
India has one of the world's largest and fastest-growing internet user bases, with over 900 million active users. The increasing adoption of digital services—including streaming platforms, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and financial transactions—has significantly boosted data consumption.
According to telecom analysts, India's international data traffic has been growing at an annual rate of over 30%, outpacing the current capacity of existing submarine cable networks. The country relies heavily on a handful of undersea cable systems connecting to global internet hubs in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
“India’s data consumption is skyrocketing, and our dependency on existing undersea cables is a potential bottleneck. More cables are needed to ensure reliability, security, and low latency in data transmission,” said a senior telecom expert from the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).
Current Undersea Cable Infrastructure
India is currently connected to the global internet through multiple submarine cable systems, including:
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India-Asia-Xpress (IAX) and India-Europe-Xpress (IEX) – Reliance Jio-backed systems enhancing connectivity with Asia and Europe.
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SMW-5 (South-East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 5) – A key submarine cable linking India with global networks.
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Bay of Bengal Gateway (BBG) – Connecting India with Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and the Middle East.
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SAFE and SEA-ME-WE-4 – Older but still operational cables supporting Indian internet traffic.
While these systems have been instrumental in handling India's digital expansion, experts argue that they are reaching capacity, and disruptions due to maintenance, faults, or geopolitical issues can significantly impact connectivity.
Challenges and Concerns
The lack of adequate undersea cable infrastructure poses multiple challenges:
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Limited Bandwidth Capacity – Existing cables may struggle to support India's growing demand, leading to slower speeds and higher costs.
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Risk of Network Congestion – Without additional routes, India's telecom infrastructure could face traffic bottlenecks, affecting businesses, financial transactions, and cloud services.
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Geopolitical Risks and Cybersecurity – With increasing global tensions, securing India’s data infrastructure is a priority. More domestic and diversified cable routes could reduce dependency on international networks.
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Disruptions and Maintenance Issues – Undersea cables are vulnerable to damages caused by natural disasters, anchor drags, or maintenance work, leading to internet outages.
Need for Policy and Investment Push
To address these concerns, telecom experts and industry leaders are urging the government and private sector to invest in new undersea cable projects. Key recommendations include:
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Encouraging Private Investment – Companies like Reliance Jio, Airtel, and global tech giants such as Google and Amazon should be incentivized to build new cable networks.
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Developing More Landing Stations – Increasing the number of cable landing stations in coastal cities like Chennai, Mumbai, and Kochi would strengthen connectivity.
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Strategic Partnerships – Collaborations with international telecom providers could help India develop new global cable routes.
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Policy Reforms – Streamlining regulatory approvals for undersea cable projects to accelerate deployment.
Future Outlook
The Indian government has acknowledged the importance of strengthening internet infrastructure, with initiatives to enhance fiber-optic connectivity and satellite communications. However, experts believe that a major expansion in undersea cable networks is essential to support India’s digital economy and maintain its position as a global technology powerhouse.
With India’s internet consumption expected to double in the next five years, proactive investments in undersea cable systems could ensure seamless global connectivity, boost economic growth, and reinforce the country’s position in the digital age.